THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Standing a little above five feet, Vishnupriya Jayaprakashan does not come across as an athlete one would normally apprehend. And for those who are uninitiated in athletics, it might come across as a bolt that she has represented India in the recently held Youth Olympics at Buenos Aires. And the surprise could grow manifold when one learns about her event. 400m hurdles. An event which is usually bossed by strapping and ripped athletes.
When Vishnupriya was fresh into the event, people dissed the same about her. They thought she would simply disappear running among towering competitors. But she proved them wrong and in less than three years since her athletics baptism, she has sent a strong signal to her detractors: That she is in for a long haul.
Former athlete and now a coach, C Haridas was the first person who had gauged Vishnupriya’s potential. Vishnupriya was referred to him by Government Moyan Model HSS physical education teacher. While at Moyan Vishnupriya first dabbled in lawn tennis where she rose to the national level. But her mentors at school felt she had a more brighter future in athletics. And thus came the switch.
Haridas knew he had a real talent to work on. A girl who has got a never-say-die attitude and an ability to generate explosive power from that diminutive frame. “A pocket dynamite she is,” Haridas broke into laughter when asked whether he held her height as a disadvantage in the event.
“She always gave me the feeling that technique and power are the key while doing hurdles. Height was never going to be a handicap for her. In fact, she is just 17 and will grow a few more inches. But even then, with this height, she can deliver real good timings,” he felt.
Vishnupriya has always reciprocated to her coach’s confidence on her with brilliant outings. The latest was the silver she had won in Bangkok during the Asian Qualifying event for Youth Olympics. It was there she had clocked 1:00.95 s, her personal best.
Vishnupriya said her immediate objective is to sink her timing below one minute. “If I can lower my timing below one minute, it would boost my confidence. I can then vie for an entry to the national senior squad,” said the plus two student.
Despite the good tidings that Vishnupriya is used to delivering to the athletic buffs, her peregrination so far has been gruelling. Her father Jayaprakashan, who works as a welder in a private company in Palakkad, said his meagre earning was inadequate to bankroll his daughter’s training.
“I cannot do much,” he lamented. “But I try to give her whatever I can. The rest of her needs at times are being taken care of by Haridas sir and some other coaches,” he said. In a sport where food supplements are as important as training, Vishnupriya acknowledges she has a winding road ahead.